Holliston 28, Dover-Sherborn 14: Panthers drop D-S

The Holliston football team exploded for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to walk off with a 28-14 win over Dover-Sherborn in the Tri-Valley League opener for both teams.

Phil Ricciuti/Daily News correspondent

The Holliston football team exploded for two fourth-quarter touchdowns to walk off with a 28-14 win over Dover-Sherborn in the Tri-Valley League opener for both teams.

Early in the fourth, the Panthers took over on their own 21-yard line following a Raider punt and quickly embarked on a nine-play drive that ended when Holliston quarterback Sean Mayo found senior running back John Themili open for a 17-yard touchdown strike.

Holliston defender Dan Feredenzi knocked down an Andrew Perlmutter pass on fourth down on the next Raider series to set the Panthers up once again, this time on the Raider 34. It only took Holliston four plays to find the end zone. Mayo picked up 3 yards on a keeper and then pitched out to Themeli (10 carries for 131 yards) for 20 more. An illegal procedure penalty cost the Panthers 5 yards, but Themeli broke through the right side for 16 yards and the final Panther touchdown. In addition to his rushing totals, Themeli also had 46 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

"I'm extremely happy," said Holliston coach Todd Kiley. "That was a win that everybody needed. Everybody has been so supportive. That was a good community win. Here it is pouring out and this place is packed. I'm so proud of these kids; we just battle. We're doing it Joey (Larracey)'s way, just reaching down for Tim (O'Connell), and we're just working our tails off. I'm just so proud of these kids."

The two teams came into the second half with the score knotted at 7-7. The Raiders appeared as though they were going to put the game on ice when they took the opening kickoff and opened a time-consuming, 14-play, 70-yard drive to move out to a 14-7 lead. Perlmutter (28 caries for 72 yards) carried the ball seven times during the drive, including the last one from a yard out.

Holliston wasn't about to let this one get away. Once again it was Themeli who got things going when he ran back the Raider kickoff 25 yards to the Holliston 40. He then picked up another 26 on a sweep left. Three plays later Mayo found him wide open on the left sideline and hit him for a 29-yard touchdown pass.

Following a scoreless first quarter, Holliston drew first blood with 3:48 remaining in the first half. The Panthers put the ball in play on their own 46 following a Raider punt. Seven plays later, Mayo carried the ball on a keeper for the final 3 yards and a 6-0 Panther lead.

Dover-Sherbon was forced to punt on its next series, but Ben Moruzzi picked off a Mayo pass on first down and the Raiders were back in business on the Holliston 34. A Perlmutter to Connor Moriarty pass picked up 14 on first down, but a Perlmutter run and two incomplete passes left the Raiders with a 4th-and-10 situation. 10. But Perlmutter found Tim Torrigan for 18 yards and a Raider first down to keep the drive alive. Two plays later, Perlmutter rushed from 2 yards out to score the tying touchdown.

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